About 30 years ago, Bo Runyon was going door-to-door selling beanbag chairs as a wholesale manufacturer.

Since then, Bo and her husband, Andy Runyon, have created “something that’s truly one of a kind,” John Wayne, COO of Runyon’s Fine Furniture, said.

The business now offers hand-crafted, western luxury furniture, a far cry from the beanbag chair days.

“I feel lucky we made it this far, to tell you the truth,” Andy Runyon said. “We’ve had a lot of luck along the way. A lot of good decisions, but a lot of luck, a lot of timing.”

Andy Runyon said all he has ever wanted to do was own and run his own business, which is what he and Bo do now. In 2024, the Runyons received a proclamation from the mayor of Roanoke for being in business for 30 years.


In a nutshell

The Runyons got their start in Haltom City in 1994, eventually moving to Roanoke in 2012 to sell custom-made furniture.

“The hope was always [to have] a family-based business, and furniture just ended up being the foundation of that,” Wayne said.

The business has changed a bit over the years, Wayne said. It has experimented with a few different esthetics and style changes, from old-world furniture in the early days to the current trend of more modern and western furniture.


The details

One of the biggest challenges for the business has been maintaining its operations across the country.

“The processes behind designing, building something custom and getting it safely all over the country has definitely been the biggest bottleneck of our growth, but it's also been our biggest differentiator from us and our competitors,” Wayne said. "Most people buy inventory and sell what they have. We design furniture, and then we sell something custom to each and every customer.”

The Runyons moved their business to Roanoke because of the charm of the city, Wayne said, adding that the business's vibe is similar to the city's.


“The family really leaned into Roanoke holistically because they fit that small-town charm, as well as the western proximity to the Fort Worth Stockyards.”

What’s next?

The business has seen a lot of growth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the company continues to grow, the Runyons hope to incorporate their family even more into their story.

“Our pivot this year is to bring the full life of the 30 years and where we've come from so that as we continue to grow," Wayne said. "We're really owning this niche to be the high-end space that can be built to suit.”